The Rule of Law and the Fundamental Role of Lawyers

The speech by Linda Klein – immediate past president of the ABA – has been presented as opening remarks during Poland-US Conference on the Rule of Law in Warsaw on 24 June 2018. In her speech Klein stated that the rule of law is expressed by the vigorous and independent legal profession and judicial branch of government. Lawyers must take the lead as advocates for the rule of law. Principles of the rule of law must never, ever yield to any perceived or actual emergency of the moment. Independent legal profession cannot and must not bend to the will of government, that independent courts must not be influenced by public or political pressure, and that access to justice is assured for all, even for the least powerful. The most important responsibility organized bar in every nation is to promote these principles and oppose any efforts to erode them. The core principles of the legal profession articulate the fundamental missions and activities of bar associations the world over. As a global leader of the rule of law issues and the world’s largest voluntary bar association, the American Bar Association has consistently supported efforts to build a strong, cohesive global movement to promote these fundamental principles